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Commencement season begins at main campus

May 04, 2009

Saint Leo University hosted two
commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 2, at its main campus in east
Pasco County, with nearly 775 students accepting academic degrees
from the private, Catholic university.

Former Florida Governor Bob Martinez spoke at the morning
ceremony, addressing an enthusiastic audience of nearly 465 adult
students who earned undergraduate or graduate degrees through
online study or during weekend and evening programs.

Martinez encouraged graduates to remain persistent in the
pursuit of their goals and told a story about the various
disadvantages he faced when, as mayor of Tampa, he decided to run
for governor. Some people doubted he was electable.

“They didn’t understand how someone with a name ‘Martinez’ could
run statewide and get votes.” Another factor: “No Catholic had ever
been elected governor of Florida.”
But he refused to let those factors limit him. “The only ceilings
we have are the ceilings we put on ourselves,” he said. “That’s
what life is all about, rising above where you are,” he said.

The theme of continued accomplishment carried over into a
boisterous afternoon ceremony. Student speaker Andre Curry
addressed more than 300 of his fellow students, who tend to be
traditional-age college students who enrolled at the university
after high school and studied for bachelor’s degrees at the main
campus full-time. “This is not the time to get comfortable with
where you are,” said Curry, a biology major who hopes to go on to
medical school after a year of work.